Former President of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) Jiang Zemin passed away on 30th November 2022 at the age of 97. He was in office from 1989 till 2002. President Jiang was once the Mayor of Shanghai. It is the international centre of China since the colonial days. When China planned to open its economy to attract FDIs in the late 1970s, Paramount leader Deng Xiaoping got the next generation leaders to study similar efforts in other countries to ensure smooth implementing. As part of that Jiang Zemin visited about 12 countries including SL to study the newly established Greater Colombo Economic Commission (GCEC) and the Katunayake Free Trade Zone (FTZ).

After more than two decades a group of officials from SL consisting of very senior politicians and senior officials were visiting China. They have had a meeting with President Jiang Zemin and have exchanged tokens of appreciation during the meeting. When SL the delegation returned to the hotel, one particular official was delivered a big gift with a thank you note. The sender had thanked the official for being so nice and helpful twenty years ago and signed “your old friend Jiang”. The SL official had then only realized that it was President Jiang who was visiting SL to whom he as a junior officer was supporting to study the economic liberalization process.

Core Leader

President Jiang was a “core” leader of third generation of the Communist Party of China (CPC). He is believed to be a pioneer in introducing the “Socialist Market Economy” concept. During his term the PRC experienced considerable economic growth which earned World Trade Organization membership in 2001. During his tenure the PRC took full control of Hong Kong in 1997. Those who witnessed the handing over ceremony which was also attended by King Charles III of England as the representative of Queen Elizabeth II will recall the matured statesmanship President Jiang displayed during the process. The western media did its best to project a negative picture of not having democracy in HK. The British who never conducted democratic elections in the territory started commenting on conducting elections in HK under Chinese rule. Two years later when Macao SAR was handed over to China, similar discussions were started but China under President Jiang not only proved those baseless but allowed both Macao and HK to flourish as never before to be leading international business hubs within Socialist China. The one country many systems method of government practiced in China affirms that China is more democratic than most of the democracies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) block (Chinese Sources).

In January 2002 Chinese engineers found that US intelligence agents have placed listening devices on board President Jiang’s official jet when it was send to the USA for service requirements. When asked about it. The seasoned Chinese leader had reportedly stated that he doesn’t talk much in the plane. In addition his handling of the Hainan island incident which involved unauthorized entry of a US aircraft to Chinese air space and US bombing of Chinese embassy in Belgrade were instances which displayed his mature statesmanship to prevent conflicts to ensure win-win growth (Ref Media). Sri Lankans may learn from the illustrious life of President Jiang Zemin on how he prevented religious extremism infiltrating into the Chinese society which ensured social harmony, stable government and economic growth through FDIs.

Photo: President Jiang Zemin taking over HK

(Writer is an academic and a broadcaster. Views expressed are personal).